Brian Hickerson's history of violence reportedly dates back to at least 2010, years before his relationship with actress Hayden Panettiere, according to his half-sister, Ashley Hickerson. She revealed details about her brother's past, characterizing him as charismatic but struggling with "demons" she attributes to drug use.
Panettiere, 36, died of an apparent overdose in Greenville, South Carolina, on August 16. Both Brian and his brother, Zachary Hickerson, were present at the scene when she was pronounced dead. Ashley stated that she understands why Panettiere repeatedly returned to her brother, describing Brian as someone who could "make you laugh no matter what and he can be fun."
"We all have our demons," Ashley told the Daily Mail. "Brian was not raised that way. It wasn't until he got into drugs that he went south."
South Carolina records indicate that in November 2010, Brian Hickerson, then 21, was charged alongside his father, David Hickerson, and his brother Zachary with two counts of third-degree assault and battery by mob. The charges stemmed from an incident nine days earlier in their hometown of Greenville. The disposition of these obscure charges is unclear, though Ashley confirmed her family remembers the event, referring to it as a "riot."
More recent incidents of violence within the family have also surfaced. In August 2018, 911 logs suggested a physical altercation between Brian and Zachary at Panettiere's Hollywood Hills home. Later that October, police were called to Brian's family home in Greenville following a reported confrontation between Brian and his father, David.
During the 2018 investigation into the incident at his family home, Panettiere informed a responding officer that Hickerson had "destroyed her kitchen" the previous April. This disclosure predated public allegations of domestic abuse by Hickerson against Panettiere.
The police report from the October 2018 incident, described as a "domestic assault in progress," noted that officers saw David Hickerson with blood on his face, and Brian holding an object while appearing to be chasing his father. Panettiere, who was inside the home, seemed "frantic." Brian Hickerson denied assaulting his father, and David Hickerson stated his injuries resulted from a fall, though the report described bruising on his face as "severe." The case was "exceptionally cleared" due to the victim's non-cooperation.
Brian Hickerson was arrested multiple times starting in May 2019 for alleged violence against Panettiere. In 2021, he pleaded no contest to two felony counts of injuring a partner and received a 45-day jail sentence, serving 13 days, along with probation and domestic-violence classes.
Panettiere had spoken publicly about the abuse and the complex connection that led her to return to Hickerson. Hickerson himself has acknowledged his actions, stating in a May interview with TMZ that he "did it" in reference to a past abusive incident described by Panettiere.
Ashley Hickerson stated that her brother had sought treatment and was "getting help" and had "own[ed] up to his s**t." She reiterated that his charm was a significant factor in his relationships, but that his violent behavior was linked to substance abuse.
Despite the well-publicized troubles, Ashley said her family is grieving Panettiere's death. "A massive tragedy has happened," she said. "My family is really feeling this loss as well." She added that their father, David, has been particularly affected, describing him as "devastated."